Well, thanks again to Featherfall's Lullaby! (Honestly, just one big thanks for reviewing and encouraging us, so on.) Tsuara and I will go back over the previous chapter to fix the typos/miswritten things. Also thanks to Guest for his/her review!
Chapters seem to be getting slower updates... We may not keep the 3,000+ goal for every chapter, because it slows down updates, but we'll see.
Chapter 5:
Finchpaw was sprawled on her side in her nest, eyes open as she watched Cloverbreeze sort through her herbs. Just like yesterday, and the day before, and the day before. Her bored expression not only seemed to live on her face but on her body posture, golden eyes dull and her body limp and stretched out. She was tired of just lying down and doing nothing all day, Cloverbreeze wouldn't let her sit up or even talk to Emberpaw or Midnightpaw when they came to visit her for too long.
"You have to have plenty of rest so your sprained leg can heal sooner," she would say, shooing her friends outside. "You can catch up with them some other time, but for now I want to put some comfrey on your leg and then you should sleep."
But Finchpaw was tired of sleeping. She would groan and protest, but Cloverbreeze wouldn't change her mind. "Stop sulking," she would tell the apprentice. "You're here to rest and heal your leg, not complain your heard off to me about having nothing to do."
Of course, the golden brown tabby apprentice had learned some things during the past three days. For instance, if she grumbled enough Cloverbreeze's gentle but stern outer shell would be replaced by a thoroughly annoyed, snappish she-cat who would tell her to be silent while she finished up with her herbs and left the den to clear her head.
Being confined to her makeshift nest also left her plenty of time to think about the words she had heard from the cat, but it didn't necessarily mean she had figured out much...
'Mistakes happen,' had been Finchpaw's main focus, and assuming it was Icepaw the only mistake she could think of would be something small. Like, stepping on a thorn as an apprentice or accidently feeding deathberries to some cat, which she was sure would have been mentioned by the elders if it had happened.
No, the only information she had to work with concerning Icepaw was that he had disappeared out in the snow, and unless he had mistakenly gotten lost she didn't see a connection.
Yet Finchpaw remained certain there was a connection of some sort. If StarClan had told Cloverbreeze that soon enough she would have an apprentice, then wouldn't that also involve the old apprentice?
Icepaw's words weren't what bothered her the most, however. It was the fact that she couldn't sneak out and go to the moonpool with her sprained leg that drove Finchpaw crazy, just like the boredom. If she could only ask the Rosepetal cat what Icepaw had meant, perhaps she would know everything behind the confusion so far!
"Well, that's all my herbs," Cloverbreeze remarked, pushing the last pile back into the crack in the cave wall where she kept her herbs. "That's each and every one of them, but it just doesn't seem to be enough."
She glanced at Finchpaw, who was still laying limply in her nest. "I'm going to bring you a mouse and then I'm going to go out and gather up some borage. Somebody's going to have to move into the nursery soon, so I might as well get myself prepared for that. You get some more rest while I'm gone, and be sure to keep off your leg, still! If it looks good enough later you can watch Olivepaw and Tigerpaw's warrior ceremonies later today."
That got Finchpaw's attention.
Jerking her head to stare at Cloverbreeze with her golden eyes stretched wide in shock, the golden brown tabby apprentice was about to jump to her feet when she remembered Cloverbreeze's warning. "When did they have their warrior assessments?"
"Yesterday," the medicine cat answered, looking slightly confused. "Didn't Emberpaw and Midnightpaw tell you?"
"No!" Came Finchpaw's despaired cry. She had only been gone from warrior training for three days, how come she had already missed what felt like so much? And why hadn't they told her- surely they couldn't have forgotten?
Finchpaw flattened her ears and shrugged to herself. "Well, bring me that mouse, please," she mewed, twisting in her nest so that she was in more of a crouching position, chin resting on her good paw. "And if anything else so important happens, could you please tell me?"
Cloverbreeze looked startled by Finchpaw's use of the word 'please.' The apprentice had been grumpy and irritable the past three days, and the medicine cat hadn't expected to hear a kind word travel from the injured cat to her. "Sure," she responded after a moment. "I'll be sure to do so, Finchpaw. I'll be back in a moment with that mouse, let me just go grab it from the fresh-kill pile!"
The medicine cat turned and slipped from the den, leaving Finchpaw to sigh and close her eyes. The next time Emberpaw and Midnightpaw stop by, I'll ask them why they didn't tell me.
It didn't take long for Cloverbreeze to return, a mouse hanging from the brown-and-white tabby she-cat's jaws. She tossed it towards Finchpaw and it landed with a soft thump in front of her. "See you later," Cloverbreeze mewed, before disappearing from the medicine cat den a second time.
Finchpaw took a small bite of mouse, thinking.
There aren't any reasons for Emberpaw not to have told me, right? And neither for Midnightpaw. They should have told me yesterday, the day it happened- they know I'd be interested to hear about it!
She felt her bad mood slowly return, and she tore another bite away from the mouse, swallowing it down roughly.
The tabby apprentice looked up as two cats padded into the medicine cat den, eyes widening as she recognized them as them parents, Hollyear and Owlclaw.
"Hi," Hollyear mewed softly, licking Finchpaw's forehead affectionately. "We're sorry we didn't visit you earlier, but we were chosen to help with Olivepaw and Tigerpaw's warrior assessments, yesterday, and Birdflight kept us busy the days before. We wanted to visit you together, but we couldn't find a time that worked."
Finchpaw let out a small purr, reluctant to carry her bad mood onto her parents' shoulders. "Thanks for coming," she mewed.
"Of course!" Owlclaw mewed, sitting next to Hollyear. "How does your leg feel? I hope you feel okay!"
"I'm fine, dad," Finchpaw answered.
"Good," Hollyear purred.
There was a yowl from the clearing, calling for Hollyear and Owlclaw both, and Finchpaw felt a small pang of disappointment. Stupid hunting patrol, she thought. Does it have to be right this moment?
Hollyear sighed and reluctantly moved towards the exit of the den, Owlclaw trailing after her. "We'll visit you again as soon as we can," they promised.
Finchpaw nodded a goodbye and lay her chin on her paws for what seemed like the millionth time today, anger starting to brew yet again. How was it that she barely had to spend any time cooped up in the medicine cat den to be stormed with negative emotions? The apprentice mulled over her thoughts, plucking them into activity before letting them go.
A flash shocked her. I'll never be a medicine cat apprentice, never! She though fiercely, feeling good to have something she could presently direct her anger at. Cloverbreeze can't force me, it's always my decision in the end because it would be happening to me!
And Icepaw! How stupid can StarClan cats be? I'm not a medicine cat, why did he give me that stupid old message? I don't care about mistakes, they happen and they're forgotten! And it's his mentor who wants me as her apprentice!
The apprentice shut her eyes, tail flicking wildly around her.
Mouse-brained medicine cats.
A calmer, more sensible part of Finchpaw told her sternly, We need the medicine cats. They're calm and wise, and they know how to work with herbs. You should respect them, not scorn them.
Sighing, Finchpaw opened her eyes and studied the rock wall of the den, waiting for Cloverbreeze to return so that she would have someone to talk and snap to.
. . .
It felt like days before the brown-and-white tabby medicine cat strolled casually into the den.
Finchpaw perked, raising her to look at Cloverbreeze. "How was herb collecting?" she asked, preparing to grumble unhappily as Cloverbreeze engaged her in some sort of conversation.
"Wonderfully so," Cloverbreeze answered. "There was a surprisingly large amount of borage at this time of the year, when Leaffall is coming upon us so soon!"
"Really?" The golden brown tabby apprentice muttered in response, uninterested in talking about herbs. "Cloverbreeze? Can I ask you something? About... Well, can I just ask you something?"
She wasn't sure whether this was a good question to ask, for Cloverbreeze or for her own pestering questions, but Finchpaw was certain that she would get something out of asking questions, even if it wasn't very much. And something would be a lot better then the nothing she had already collected from thinking things over by herself, along with the StarClan questions she had asked Cloverbreeze the first day.
"Sure," the medicine cat shrugged, looking curious. "What about?"
"Well..."
Finchpaw took a small breath. "I wanted to know more about Icepaw's disappearance..."
Cloverbreeze took in a sharp intake of breath, loud and hoarse, before slowly letting it trickle back out. "Why?" was all she answered.
"I-I'm curious, the elders didn't tell me much, and then I was thinking about how StarClan told you you'd have an apprentice soon, and it reminded me of Icepaw and all," Finchpaw asked, twitching her ears as a wave of determination surged through her- she would get her answers.
"Very well..."
The medicine cat paused, readied herself, and then continued. "I-I sent Icepaw towards the WindClan border to collect some herbs, because I knew that Ravenwing, an elder and whom I also believe is your great-great-grandmother, was taking a walk alone down there, where the lake met the WindClan stream, because she liked the view there. I thought Icepaw would be able to keep an eye on her without getting Ravenwing suspicious or hyped up about us being cautious."
Finchpaw pricked her ears, straining. "And?"
"And he never came back," Cloverbreeze finished sharply. The brown-and-white tabby she-cat turned around and was suddenly very interested in her herbs.
Feeling back, Finchpaw flattened her ears slightly. "I'm sorry," she breathed. From the sound of it, Cloverbreeze blamed herself for sending Icepaw off towards there. She felt somewhat like what she was the reason Icepaw was gone. When the medicine cat said nothing in response, Finchpaw gently added, "What about Ravenwing? Did she come back? What did she look like?"
"Ravenwing came back. Later, when we sent out patrols to find Icepaw, she said she hadn't sensed him there at all. She was traumatized that someone in the same area as her had just... disappeared. The grief killed her less then a moon earlier, along with her own being frail." Cloverbreeze answered. "She was a long-furred black she-cat, with just gorgeous green eyes. She was quieter; her two kits, Hollyheart and Goldenhawk, were abandoned rogue kits that she adopted... So I guess she isn't actually your great-great-grandmother, but Hollyheart is your mother, Hollyear's, grandmother."
Finchpaw stiffened. A longer-furred black she-cat with green eyes... Mother to a Hollyheart and a Goldenhawk- Goldenkit?
This sounded just like the cats from the dream about the black she-cat, Goldenbramble, and their three kits! But what about Rosekit? And they weren't adopted!
"Some secrets are discovered or told. Other secrets are kept and protected forever," Icepaw whispered.
The golden brown tabby apprentice looked behind her, but she saw nothing more then an eerie flash of blue eyes.
Are you saying they did something to keep the secret of them being mates? By... By each taking a kit or two back to their camp and saying they found them as abandoned rogue kits? And... And these cats were her great-great-grandparents?
"Really?" Finchpaw answered. "I didn't know I had rogue blood!" More like RiverClan, if I'm right! "Hey, that's just like I heard that a Rose-something was a rogue kit taken in by RiverClan! At least, I think I heard that."
"You're correct," the medicine cat mewed. "Rosefern of RiverClan was found, abandoned, as a rogue."
But...
Finchpaw's mind was whirling, but she didn't afford to stop talking and raise suspicious, though she was also afraid she'd do the same by continuing to talk. Not only did Ravenwing and Goldenbramble appear to be real, but they were her ancestors! Her kin!
"Oh, it looks like its the warrior ceremony!" Cloverbreeze exclaimed. "Let's get you out into the clearing."
The apprentice rose to her feet, gently testing her sprained leg. It felt a lot better- weird, but a lot better and a lot more like normal.
"Can I get back to training soon?" she asked as she hobbled and Cloverbreeze trotted out of the medicine cat den.
"Yes," the brown-and-white tabby she-cat answered simply. "Four more days at most, but you're recovering quickly. It wasn't a terrible sprain to start with, but you had the force in a painful spot. "
Finchpaw sat stiffly beside Cloverbreeze, and Hollyear and Emberpaw slipped through the crowd to sit beside her.
Still stunned about her RiverClan-ThunderClan kin, and also angry at Emberpaw for not telling her about the warrior ceremony, she didn't turn her head to acknowledge them, only leaned into her mother's pelt.
"Today we gather for the most important ceremony in a cat's life," Hazelstar was mewing. "Olivepaw, Tigerpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend this clan, even at the cost of your life?"
"I do!" Olivepaw vowed instantly, eyes shining with purpose and sincerity.
"I do," Tigerpaw echoed, calm but sure and steady.
"And Birdflight, Vixenheart, do you agree that your apprentices are ready to become warriors?" The light brown tabby she-cat asked, turning to the two mentors.
The deputy rose lightly to her feet. "Yes, Hazelstar," she mewed formally. "My apprentice, Olivepaw, is more then ready to join her older clanmates in warrior-hood. She has learned and demonstrated plenty that she is ready for this new title."
"Tigerpaw knows how to hunt and fight as well as any cat here," Vixenheart added. "He will be a valuable asset to ThunderClan."
Hazelstar's eyes sparkled as she watched the two apprentices. "Then I, Hazelstar, leader of ThunderClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down upon these apprentices. They have trained hard to learn the ways of their noble code, and I for that I commend them to you as warriors in their turn."
The ThunderClan leader bounded down the highledge and stood before the two apprentices.
"Tigerpaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Tigerleap, in honor of your daring and sensibility. We welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
The newly named Tigerleap licked Hazelstar's shoulder respectively and then stepped back, leaving room for his sister to receive her own name. Olivepaw looked very excited, but had icy claws of control keeping her from acting in an unrespectable fashion. When Tigerleap moved back she padded forward a few steps, gazing into Hazelstar's dark blue eyes.
"Olivepaw, from this moment on, you shall be known as Olivepetal, in honor of your kindness and loyalty." Hazelstar continued, training her eyes on the new warrior. "We welcome you as a full warrior of ThunderClan."
Olivepaw- no, Olivepetal licked Hazelstar's shoulder respectively before stepping back as well, touching noses with her brother, Tigerleap.
"Tigerleap! Olivepetal! Tigerleap! Olivepetal!" ThunderClan cheered loudly.
Finchpaw made sure to shout their names as loud as she could, since Cloverbreeze wouldn't let her walk over to congratulate them personally- not today, at least.
As the cheers died down the clan weaved around the two newest warriors, speaking kind words and cheering them on, Emberpaw and Hollyear slipped away to join the throng. Cloverbreeze, however, stayed by Finchpaw's side, and for once the golden brown tabby she-cat found herself happy to be alone in the medicine cat's presence- whether she liked it or not, she was starting to grow used to having the brown-and-white tabby she-cat alone.
"Let's get back to the den," Finchpaw mewed after a moment.
Cloverbreeze nodded. "Think you can walk there?"
"Of course!" Finchpaw decreed, standing back up. She padded back to her nest and lay down. "Can I do some more walking before we go to bed?"
"Well..." The medicine cat thought for a moment. "Okay... But once most cats are in their dens, so we don't disturb anyone and have more room to ourselves. I don't want to go too hard on your leg, but you're right that we should keep using it."
Finchpaw purred happily. "I may take a nap before then," she warned, closing her eyes.
"Right, then!"
Cloverbreeze seemed to be a little astonished that Finchpaw hadn't snapped at her, and so the apprentice opened her eyes for a moment. "Bring me a mouse before, though, please?" she asked in a grumpy tone.
The medicine cat smiled and nodded. "Will do."
And after I get to walk, I get to think more about what Icepaw said.. the first time, and maybe the second thing he said as well.
Well, this chapter covered a lot small duration of time then in comparison to the others, it seems. But there was more detail and fewer one-liners, which we're happy about.
Basically this chapter covers Finchpaw figuring things out and warming up somewhat to Cloverbreeze.
Anyways, the 3,000+ goal has been met again... The chapter itself was 2,888 words and the final two words are easily covered in our notes. So cheers for that.
Uh... so hopefully we'll update a little quicker next time.
Oh, and we/aka Tsuara drew a picture of Finchpaw for the story picture, though we may not keep it. We describe Finchpaw as golden brown but we can't actually figure out what we want/Tsuara wanted golden brown to look like.
-Qashi and Tsuara-
(Oh, and [Chapter Edit] we just realized we have two more favorites! Thanks a lot, we're really grateful and happy to hear people are enjoying our story! :D So, another super-big thanks to Featherfall's Lullaby and Sleepynels for adding this story to your favorites!)